PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Ian MacDonald was born in 1948. A writer of many interests, he was Assistant Editor of the New Musical Express during 1972-5. He also worked as a songwriter and record producer, and is the author of Revolution in the Head (1994;1997; 2005), The People's Music (2003) and The Beatles at No. 1 (2003). He died in 2003. Raymond Clarke, born in Bournemouth in 1963, obtained his MA at Cambridge University before studying piano at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music. An active concert performer, he also teaches piano at Bristol University. Three of his currently-available commercial CDs feature solo piano music by Shostakovich, including both sonatas.
One of the best biographies of Dmitri Shostakovich I have read -- Maxim Shostakovich Compelling ... a portrait of a creative artist tormented and harried by the random assaults of Stalinism Financial Times Persuasively argued and forceful ... A valid, politically driven reconsideration of the composer's works New York Times Review of Books With passionate integrity, MacDonald fastidiously builds a case to rival the most compellingly labyrinthine detective investigation. Now the great music of Shostakovich will be heard anew Q Much-needed - a very fascinating insight -- Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys)
